December 31, 2017

The Daily Dish: Tortelloni Primavera at Adriatic Restaurant & Bar

Local Stories

RestaurantInterviews

Today we’d like to introduce you to Salem, MA’s Adriatic Restaurant & Bar.

We’d love to learn the story behind Adriatic Restaurant & Bar.
I don’t know if I always wanted to open a restaurant but I always knew I liked good food. At young age I moved to Bologna Italy where I lived for many years and worked in sales. I traveled a lot and got to enjoy many restaurants. My boos was a foodie. He tought me how to appreciate good food and took me out to some of the best restaurants in Bologna. I remember when I had my first Risotto Primavera cooked inside a wheel of Parmigiano or Wild Boar with Polenta at Ristorante da Pietro and Maccheroncini all Norma at Trattoria Fantoni in Bologna, or my first Spagheti with Clams at Zia Tereza on Naples. During my time in Italy I traved around Europe and I still recall the flavors of Paella in Ibiza, the Triglie alla Griglia a Bari or the Octopus Salad in Greece. I enjoyed travelling and eating out. I was introduced to western European cuisine in my late teen early twenties. Born in Eastern Europe in communist Albania we did not have much. The country was poor and isolated. Scarce refrigeration and Transportation made us eat produce only in season and local meats, fish and cheeses. Now that I think back we did not have much but this was my first farm to table experience. Everything tasted good in the old county. I started cooking for a living in my late twenties. At age 27 I moved to Massachusset and thru common friends I meet a young and talented Italian Chef, Domenico Bosco. Domenico had just started working as the Executive chef of Portifono in Malden and offered me the opportunity to work with him. I blended right in. Cooking came natural to me. In short time I moved the ladders of the kitchen. I perfected butchering, pasty making, grilling, sautéing and became one of the most important tool of our kitchen. I liked cooking but I decided that I wanted to have my own restaurant the day I waited tables. The restaurant was short handed and Diane the manager asked me if I could help them in the dinning room with a function on my day off. I agreed. This day changed me forever. Waiting table was my game. The interaction with the people gave me wings. I could cook and serve at the same time. The next day I went to work and told everyone in the kitchen that I wanted to open my own restaurant. In the following years I read many cookbooks, watched a lot of food network, studied wines and cocktails and worked as a chef, waiter and bartender in various restaurants including Ristorante Fiore in the North End. After more than three years in the north end I left to open Adriatic Restaurant and Bar in Salem. I open the Restaurant with my wife Eljonida who is a Salem State graduate in business and runs the financial parts of our operation. We hired a local chef Thomas Girard who left the North End to move close to home. Tom and I worked closed together to put the foundations of our menu which is a blend of Italian, Grecce and other regions surrounding the Adriatic Sea. To this day I am in and out of the kitchen helping, creating and appreciating the amazing work of our team. Adriatic was warmly welcomed in Salem since the opening day in August of 2010 and thru the years has improved and became a major player to the north shore dinnig scene.

Successfully running a restaurant is extremely difficult. Tell us about some of the challenges you’ve had to overcome.
It was not easy to get where we are today. We opened the place with limited financial resources and did not have anything left to advertise or hire more people. But hard work paid off. Costumers loved us and kept coming back and we kept adding new members to out team. It was a slow and steady process but we made it.

Is there something unique or interesting about Adriatic Restaurant & Bar that our readers should know about?
Adriatic Restaurant enjoyes a great location in downtown Salem. Our restaurant has a warm ambiance with folding door that open to the patio. The interiors are very nicely build and decorated with local art, We also have a private function room.
Our menu offers fresh locally sourced products. We have a brick oven that makes excellent bread and pizza, we offer different kinds of homemade pastas, fresh market fish and meats and homemade dessert.
Adriatic Restaurant has a great wine program with wine dinners offered. Our wine list is large with many varietals and good deals.
What makes us great is our service. We have a great training program and feel fortunate to have an amazing group of servers and bartenders working with us.

Most Popular Items

Tortelloni Primavera

Homemade Spinach and Ricotta Tortelloni, Asparagus, Zucchini, Grape Tomatoes and Pea Tendrils
Dietary: Vegetarian
Swordfish Putanesca

Grilled Swordfish served over Israeli Couscous with Pan Fried Eggplant, Roasted Peppers and Sauteed Spinach, Putanesca Sauce with Anchovies, Green Cerignola Olives, Capers, Onions,Tomatoes and Mint Oil

Rose Water and Pistachio Cake

Homemade Pistachio Cake soaked in Rose Water Syrup.
Dietary: Gluten-free

Lamb Lollipop

Grilled Lamb chops with Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Pickled Onions, Kalamata Olives, Feta Cheese and MintParking Advice:
Unfortunately we do not have a private parking lot but there is metered parking and to parking garage within walking distance.